My MAPS: incorporating personal and social factors to increase physical activity after stroke: a co-design study

Engaging in meaningful social and community activities may be an option for promoting sustainable post-stroke physical activity participation. This research aimed to co-design an intervention to help people re-engage in meaningful activities and lead an active life after stroke. A four-stage co-design methodology using an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach was used to design a post-stroke intervention and resources: Stage one: research team planning, stage two: knowledge-user content development, stage three: research team intervention and resource development, stage four: knowledge-user review and research team adaptation and finalisation. The research team included four clinical researchers with expertise in stroke and/or physical activity, two stroke clinicians, and one stroke survivor. Knowledge-user informants were recruited to participate (Stages 2 and 4) and included eight stroke survivors (four female), median age 67 years (IQR 55–74); and 11 health professionals (10 allied-health and one registered nurse). An intervention and resources aiming to facilitate physical activity was successfully developed. It comprises a patient-facing booklet (including secondary-stroke prevention education, structured meaningful activity identification, and goal setting) and a health professional resource (including education, upskilling information, and resources). This study successfully co-designed an intervention and resources which are ready for feasibility and acceptability testing. Interventions which include engagement in meaningful and/or social activities have the potential to increase regular physical activity in stroke survivorsAn intervention and associated resources, titled “My MAPS,” were successfully developed to support health professionals and stroke survivors with the aim of leading an active life after strokeMy MAPS is now ready for feasibility and acceptability testing, prior to implementation Interventions which include engagement in meaningful and/or social activities have the potential to increase regular physical activity in stroke survivors An intervention and associated resources, titled “My MAPS,” were successfully developed to support health professionals and stroke survivors with the aim of leading an active life after stroke My MAPS is now ready for feasibility and acceptability testing, prior to implementation